Queers, Disabled, People of Colour and other Minorities
First things first, I'm Queer (the B in LGBTQ+) and I'm Disabled (degenerative osteoporosis lower back, and brand new hip). I'm also Pagan (witch).
With that disclaimer out of the way, we'll get down to the real nitty gritty. For years any book that I picked up that had LGBTQ+ characters in it, were erotica, or they were the villain or tragically killed off. Now days however they are adventurers (on this world and the next), detectives (my novel Sorceress), sports people, reporters, and the Queens of Hades (my Demon Blood novel still in production) and their love lives are full and lasting. They are still the villains and still tragically killed off, but my point is that they have richer lives and do many more things like the real LGBTQ+ people do.
As evidenced by the new Dr. Who, people with disabilities have finally arrived. For years we've been background characters, side kicks and quite possibly the butt of jokes (we still can be), but now like the aforementioned Queers, we are coming into our own within the pages of books. Even kids books have kids with disabilities in them, which is awesome for them to see themselves doing what they do every day.
Witches have always been in novels, so nothing new there, but still a minority.
I can't speak for people of colour, but I have noticed that there are a lot more books with them in them. This is I think a great thing, as for way to long it seems like the white or Caucasian type of person was represented as being the main character from kids books right up along the way. Now POC are the hero's and heroines, and what's more, they are being written by the people that they represent. Though for some like a lot of countries indigenous peoples (like the Mincéir here in Ireland), there is still a long way to go.
Minorities in novels can be a loaded subject, like who should have the right to write about them? What roles should they play (HINT...ALL)? Who should be reading them, kids or adults? What subjects can they tackle?
It is important when writing about a minority group you aren't a part of, that you get someone from that group to read what you have written and give you feed back. These people are called SENSATIVITY readers. For work going forward I agree with the concept of a sensitivity reader, what I don't agree with is revision of classics, as I believe that those works are of their time and should not be tampered with. These novels should remain as written, and show us, even teach us about our own biases and bigotries, and how we should all strive to be better human beings. So by all means, use them.
Qualifications
In order to be a writer or author do you need qualifications? The answer to that one is no, not unless you want to teach the subject or facilitate the subject to a group of eager students (young and older). There are lot of courses out there that offer degrees, or certificates, and diplomas in creative writing. You can even become a Doctor (PHD) if you so choose.
Just know that the only qualification that you need to be a writer is to write, and the only qualification that you need to be an author is to either Trad Publish, or Self Publish. Nothing else counts.
Queers and Minorities
Last year I fell madly in love with the writing of Nicola Griffith who describes herself as a Queer/Crip writer...
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You've got me curious about Nichola Griffith. I'm going to look her up. Thanks.
DeleteI agree that the only qualification you need to become a writer or even a published author is to sit butt to chair and write. But along with that comes perseverance, determination, and confidence. Those three things can't be taught in a book, but we all have them inside ourselves somewhere. Some of us just have to dig a little deeper to find them. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the diversity that's becoming the status quo in literature today. I love learning about different cultures, learning about places I've never been and experiencing the life of all types of people I've never met. Can't get any better than that.
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